Strap is impossible to tighten
March 30, 2018
We just purchased the Nautilus 80 for both my 5 and 3 year old sons. We also have the nautilus 65 that we've been using for 2 years with my 5 year old, that we moved into my husbands car when we got the 80. Once both boys are strapped in, it is darn near impossible to tighten the strap on the 5 pt harnesses. I have to pull so hard on the strap that the seats actually move forward, despite being snugly buckled in with the seat belt and secured with the back tether! It is AWFUL, and I am ready to return both of them. I am admit I could hit the gym more often but this is ridiculous. It should not be this hard to tighten a frigging car seat 5 point harness! We never had this problem with the 65! I am not exaggerating when I say I am sweating and exhausted each time I put my boys into the car.
My van is arranged that the two boys are in the rear seat, and my baby is in one of the second row seats. We removed the other second row seat so I could easily get the older boys in and out of the back seat. My 5 year old is behind the baby, and so I really cannot tighten him enough because of the awkward angle. I can't get myself between the two seats, and I literally need all of my weight and body strength to tighten it. So I am just relying on my arm muscles to tighten him in, and its not enough which is crazy to me! My three year old, I can get decently tight because there's no seat in front of him, so I can really hunker down and pull with my entire body. Sometimes, I put my foot on his seat to keep it from coming too far forward, while I heave on the strap with all my might. But honestly, I do not think this amount of physical labor should be required just to strap a kid into a carseat.
We are not new to car seats. These Nautilus 80's are the 4th type of Graco car seat we have owned and we have never had this problem before! Can someone please call me? I am holding out hope that we've done something wrong with the installation, but based on other reviews, It sounds like it's just a poor design.
This product review was collected by the manufacturer.